ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- This is the fourth segment in a series of questions and answers dedicated to answering basic questions about the ongoing merger of Fort Richardson and Elmendorf into Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Future articles will be printed on a recurring basis.
These questions were called into the Joint Base Enterprise line; 384-JBER (5237):
Q: Currently active-duty Soldiers and Department of Army civilians can use the dump facilities at no cost. Will this continue after JBER?
A: The Letter of Agreement between the U.S. Army Garrison and the Municipality of Anchorage states, "Effective January 31, 2010, only U.S. Army active-duty personnel, their dependents and Army civilian employees with proper identification will be authorized to dispose of household solid waste for free. Until that time, no change in policy will be affected." This agreement will continue in effect after JBER; however, those DA civilians who transfer to Department of Air Force and receive an Air Force ID card, will no longer meet the criteria specified in the letter of agreement. They will still have access to use the landfill, but it will no longer be free of charge.
Q: Civilians can eat at the dining facilities on Fort Richardson, but not on Elmendorf. Will this change after JBER?
A: Current Air Force Instructions do not allow civilians or contractors to dine in Air Force dining facilities. Following the transition, Oct. 1, 2010, all JBER dining facilities will be required to comply with Air Force Instructions; however, most instructions allow organizations the ability to request waivers to adjust requirements and accommodate for unique circumstances. Generally, these waiver requests must be processed to the Secretary of the Air level, so we cannot at this time guarantee that dining facilities will be accessible to civilians or contractors after transition to JBER.
Q: I currently work four ten-hour days. Will this change after JBER?
A: Work schedules are the discretion of the supervisor and predicated on mission requirements. This is not a new policy. Once Department of Army employees convert to Department of Air Force employees, work schedules may be reevaluated based on mission requirements and policy of each office. For employees in a bargaining unit, any labor relations requirements (such as notice to the union, etc.) will be met before any change in working conditions.
Q: Who will be responsible for the appearance of Fort Richardson after joint base? How will JBER enforce post appearance?
A: Ultimately, the appearance of our installation is the responsibility of all its residents. The JBER commander (Air Force colonel) and the JBER vice commander (Army colonel) will have authority over all real estate comprising the joint base. As such, they will direct the workforce that provides the maintenance and repair of installation facilities and grounds, as well as establish programs and policies to enforce JBER appearance standards.